By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, October 8: Keutsang Rinpoche, whose previous reincarnation led the search party to find the current Dalai Lama, today offered a Long Life Prayer Offering Ceremony (Tenshug) to the Tibetan spiritual leader at Tsugla khang, the main temple in Dharamshala.
Speaking to reporters, Keutsang Rinpoche said that the long life prayer ceremony was first scheduled to be held inside His Holiness residence but later decided to hold at the temple as advised by His Holiness to coincide with the teachings and Lhakar.
“I arrived in India in 1985 and it has been 30 years since then. When I first reached here, I was very weak having spent years in Chinese prison and had little hope to survive. But because of His Holiness’ kindness and special care, I have been living in the vicinity of His Holiness’ residence. Politically and religiously, I have lived under the guidance of His Holiness. I could not do much, but the Long Life prayer ceremony is a way to express my gratitude to him,” said Keutsang Rinpoche after the ceremony conducted by the abbot of Namgyal Monastery.
Keutsang Rinpoche Jampel Yeshe is the reincarnation of Darhen Keutsang Yeshe Monlam Pel Sangpo (4th Keutsang Rinpoche) who was a personal assistant to the 13th Dalai Lama and the leader of the search team to find the 14th Dalai Lama.
Keutsang Rinpoche was born in Lhokha Won, U-Tsang in 1944 and was recognized as the reincarnation of the 4th Keutsang Lama at the age of two. In 1960, Rinpoche was sentenced to 20 years in prison for offering his blessings to those who participated in 1959 demonstrations against China. He served 18 years in prison and was subjected to physical and mental torture.
He was released from prison in 1980 and fled into exile in 1985, and resumed his life as an incarnated Lama.
